Power outages reported in the area

Tuesday’s winter storm has caused thousands of customers to lose electricity in several area communities.

Ameren had some 35,000 customers [2]without power overall in Illinois, according to a release from spokesman Leigh Morris.

He said the biggest cause of outages is strong winds blowing across ice-covered power lines. The lines can bounce violently against each other, which can cause outages, and can break crossarms and poles.

While Ameren has 1,600 workers tackling the outages, the efforts "will continue to be hampered by high winds, ice, heavy snow, subzero wind chills and extremely hazardous road conditions," Morris said in the release. "Outages are expected to continue."

Southern Champaign County, southeastern Vermilion County and northwestern Edgar County had reported outages.

Ameren Illinois reported that 2,500 customers had no electricity in Georgetown, more than 2,200 customers were without electricity in Westville. More than 730 customers in Ridge Farm, more than 300 customers in Sidell, nearly 300 in Indianola and about 80 in Danville had no power..

In Piatt County, nearly 900 customers had no power in Bement at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

In Champaign County, more than 300 customers in Pesotum, more than 240 customers in Philo and more than 150 customers in Ivesdale were also without power.

Here is a list of outages by area counties, including total customers and percent of customers without power as of 7:40 p.m.